Yohimbine for Bodybuilding Results & Cutting Cycles Review

Why do bodybuilders take Yohimbine supplements? Yohimbine is a fat-burning compound and the active ingredient in yohimbe bark extract.

Consumers primarily use this supplement to lose fat during short-term fasting but many are now using yohimbine for bodybuilding. Also an aphrodisiac, it can aid erectile dysfunction.

Bodybuilders take yohimbine during their cutting cycles to help them achieve a lower body fat percentage. It is also used as an energy booster and sometimes taken as a pre-workout supplement in an ECY stack.

Reviews of yohimbine supplements for bodybuilding are often positive, but demonstrate a high risk of side effects. Despite the anecdotal evidence of effectiveness, there is limited research to support the use of yohimbine for bodybuilding results.

The terms yohimbine, yohimbe bark extract, and yohimbine hydrochloride are related but not interchangeable.

Yohimbine is an alkaloid contained in the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree, an evergreen in West Africa.

This compound is a general stimulant that works by increasing adrenaline levels. It also inhibits a regulatory process that prevents the body from burning fat.

Food intake partially negates the effects of yohimbine, which is why consumers normally take the supplement while fasting.

Yohimbine hydrochloride (yohimbine HCL) is a standardized synthetic form of yohimbine, available only as a prescription drug in the United States. Synthetic yohimbine cannot be used as an ingredient in dietary supplements – only the natural extract derived from Yohimbe tree bark.

Uses for Yohimbine

Because yohimbine acts as an alpha-2 receptor antagonist, it produces hyperadrenergic physiological effects.

Historically, people have used yohimbe as an aphrodisiac and general sexual dysfunction in men and women. Evidence supports this use of the active ingredient in yohimbe bark, although most research focuses on yohimbine HCL oral tablets.

A study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research shows yohimbine hydrochloride to be effective as an erectile dysfunction treatment for some men.

This drug can also treat xerostomia, otherwise known as dry mouth. Many studies investigating orthostatic hypotension and autonomic disorders, such as the one published in Hypertension, have used yohimbine. [1],[2]

A growing number of people are now taking yohimbine as a bodybuilding aid. There is, so far, no evidence to support the use of this compound to increase muscle mass.

There may be yohimbine body building benefits, especially for cutting cycles that reduces fat to give muscles better definition. Bodybuilders typically perform a cutting cycle to get the ripped, toned look they desire before a competition.

Yohimbine for Bodybuilding Results

Despite positive yohimbine for bodybuilding reviews, there is very little evidence supporting its efficacy.

One study, published in a print edition of Research in Sports Medicine, sought to provide evidence of yohimbine bodybuilding benefits.

In that study, researchers evaluated the effects of supplementation on exercise performance and body composition in professional soccer players.

At the beginning of the study, the researchers measured body mass, muscle mass and certain exercise performance indicators, such as bench and leg presses, vertical jumps, shuttle runs, dribbling and power tests. [3]

The researchers randomly assigned 20 top-level male soccer players to one of two groups.

Participants in the test group consumed tablets containing 20 milligrams of yohimbine twice daily for 21 days. Subjects in the control group took cellulose pills identical in appearance to the yohimbine tablets.

There was no statistical difference in lean muscle mass between participants in the two groups. Furthermore, there were no changes in exercise performance indicators within each group or between the test group and control group.

The percentage of body fat did decrease in the test group that took yohimbine, however, which led the researchers to conclude that it is a suitable fat loss strategy for elite athletes.

The results of this study suggest that yohimbine would only be an effective bodybuilding strategy if the consumer’s goal were to lose weight with a supplement during a cutting cycle.

However, more research is needed to confirm these results. Studies must replicate these findings in order to validate the benefits.

Some yohimbine supplements are dangerously strong, according to a study published in Drug Testing and Analysis that found many contain prescription-strength active ingredients and contain higher dosages than what is listed on the label. [4]

Dosages for Bodybuilders

No studies have been conducted to determine the optimal dose of Yohimbine for bodybuilders to take. However, data from other studies can be used to inform dosage guidelines.

The mean dose for Yohimbine HCL as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, according to Drugs.com, is 0.4 mg/kg body weight or 30 mg daily, and a maximum of 50 mg.

Some preparations call for 5-100mg of yohimbine HCl taken daily, most often administered in one to four divided doses throughout the day for 2 – 8 weeks. [5]

The typical dosage to treat dry mouth is 6 mg three times a day.

A recent study showed yohimbine is effective in the management of anorgasmia, otherwise known as orgasmic dysfunction. Researchers initiated dosing at 20 mg, with 5 mg escalations to a maximum of 50 mg. They determined the mean dose to be 0.4 mg/kg body weight.

The dosage for yohimbe bark extract is 5 – 10 teaspoons of shaved raw bark simmered in a pint of water to make yohimbe bark tea. Adding 0.5-1.0g of vitamin C converts the alkaloid into a more readily water-soluble ascorbate.

Yohimbe bark tea can also be prepared, but is not typically used by bodybuilders. The herbal tea is more commonly taken as a libido-enhancer in both men and women.

Dosages for other treatments include 10mg of yohimbine once weekly in Anxiety patients. This dosage was administered 45 minutes prior to undergoing therapy for four weeks. 20mg of yohimbine HCL has also been used 30 minutes before fear conditioning.

In participants taking 3mg/kg desipramine for depression, a dosage of 5-30mg yohimbine 3-4 times daily has been administered for ten days. It may combat sexual dysfunction associated with anti-depressant use.

Before using yohimbine for bodybuilding cycles, consult with a doctor to determine if this supplement is safe for you. Your doctor can also help you decide on the best dosage for your needs.

OVERVIEW: Yohimbe is an evergreen tree that grows in parts of Africa. Yohimbine is the active compound found in the bark of the Yohimbe tree. Traditionally yohimbe bark tea has been used as an aphrodisiac and to treat erectile dysfunction. READ MORE...

MECHANISM: It is thought that yohimbine's main mechanism of action is related to its ability to increase blood pressure and blood flow, and act as a blood vessel dilator; yohimbine may also have an effect on the release of various neurotransmitter including norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. READ MORE...

SIDE EFFECTS: Rated as Possibly Unsafe when used orally. Has been used safely for up to 10 weeks in individuals under medical supervision. Mild side effects may include nausea, dizziness, agitation/restlessness, insomnia, headache, and heart palpitations. In some cases severe adverse effects have included difficulty breathing, shock, heart attack, coma, and death. READ MORE...

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